GROUP GIVES DEMAIO AN EARLY ENDORSEMENT

San Diego 
Republican Carl DeMaio didn’t have to wait long to pick up the endorsement of a political action committee.

On Monday, the San Diego chapter of New Majority California announced that it has endorsed his nascent candidacy for the 52nd Congressional District seat held by freshman Democrat Scott Peters.

The support comes more than half a year before the candidate filing period, which begins on Feb. 10.

“We felt it important to get behind a strong candidate early,” said Jon Cross, executive director of New Majority California’s San Diego chapter.

Cross said the group interviewed DeMaio and three other prospective GOP candidates for the 52nd district seat before making its endorsement. He declined to name the other Republicans who were considered.

The local chapter’s chairman, Kelly Burt, said DeMaio is the right choice for the political action committee in its efforts to help wrest the seat from Peters.

DeMaio said he appreciated the group’s early backing.

“They understand the importance of making fiscal and economic issues the priority,” he said in a statement. “They share my passion to bring common-sense values back to Washington.”

DeMaio announced last week that he will vie to represent the largely coastal district, where Peters edged Republican Brian Bilbray in November’s election.

DeMaio is a former San Diego councilman and 2012 mayoral candidate. He is the only Republican to formally announce his candidacy in the 52nd District so far.

New Majority California has more than 100 members in San Diego County, along with chapters in Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Barbara. It focuses on business-friendly candidates running for Congress, the state Legislature and local offices.